About Interface Modes - HP Cisco MDS 9020 - Fabric Switch Configuration Manual

Chapter 12 Configuring Interfaces
S e n d d o c u m e n t a t i o n c o m m e n t s t o m d s f e e d b a c k - d o c @ c i s c o . c o m
We recommend that you configure your E ports on a 16-port switching module. If you must configure
Note
an E port on a 32-port host optimized switching module, the other three ports in that 4-port group cannot
be used.
Note In the Cisco MDS 9100 Series, the left most groups of ports outlined in white (4 ports in the 9120 switch
and 8 ports in the 9140 switch) are full line rate like the 16-port switching module. The other ports (16
ports in the 9120 switch and 32 ports in the 9140 switch) are host-optimized like the 32-port switching
module. Each group of 4 host-optimized ports have the same rules as for the 32-port switching module.

About Interface Modes

Each physical Fibre Channel interface in a switch may operate in one of several port modes: E port, F
port, FL port, TL port, TE port, SD port, ST port, and B port (see
interface may be configured in auto or Fx port modes. These two modes determine the port type during
interface initialization.
Figure 12-1
NL port
Interfaces are created in VSAN 1 by default. See
Note
Each interface has an associated administrative configuration and an operational status:
•
•
OL-16184-01, Cisco MDS SAN-OS Release 3.x
Cisco MDS 9000 Family Switch Port Modes
N port
F port
E port
FL port
Public
loop
NL port
The administrative configuration does not change unless you modify it. This configuration has
various attributes that you can configure in administrative mode.
The operational status represents the current status of a specified attribute like the interface speed.
This status cannot be changed and is read-only. Some values may not be valid when the interface is
down (for example, the operational speed).
Figure
NL port
p
ISL lin k
E port
Chapter 19, "Configuring and Managing VSANs."
Cisco MDS 9000 Family CLI Configuration Guide
Fibre Channel Interfaces
12-1). Besides these modes, each
NL port
Public
loop
FL port
12-3